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Invasive
Species Impacts on Anglers are Rapidly Increasing
The fishing and boating season is
right around the corner and it's likely that you will be impacted by
invasive species this summer; but not in the way you might
think. It's not just that invaders are harming our
fishing by altering the environment or impacting fish populations.
Rather, impacts are being created through efforts to prevent the spread
of invasives. From the cost of fees and inspections, to changes in our
equipment (see story below), to reduced access and new restrictions,
invasives are fueling a lot of change.
The following provides
a quick overview of some stories of change. They provide examples of
what you may face in your home area now or in
the future. We can be certain that more
change will be coming but we don't know what that
change might take. Be educated and be involved. Be aware and comment on
proposed changes in your area.
Two northern Minnesota lawmakers
have
introduced legislation that would ban the Department of Natural
Resources from building any new public access areas on lakes and
rivers. Read More
Wisconsin boaters are being asked
to support ANS programs through a voluntary checkoff contribution. Read More
Lake Tahoe has just published their boating inspection
requirements and fees for 2010. In addition to invasives, boats will be
inspected for a host of other environmental problems. Read More
At Lake
Pearl in MA, local officials have raised the non resident access
fee from $20 to $75 to pay for weed eradication. This move has angered
anglers and the state is now refusing to stock the lake. Read More
Idaho was the first sate to implement a statewide invasive
species sticker program which requires every boat to pay. Here is a
look at some of the results of the first year of the program. Read More
One thing Idaho lawmakers have already decided is that the
fees for the state invasive species stickers were not high enough so
the legislature has approved raising the cost of non resident stickers
by $2.00. Read More
The Idaho model of making boaters pay the costs of a
statewide program seems to be becoming the program of choice for other
states to model, Oregon is already implementing a similar programs and
now Wyoming has authorized a sticker program. Read More
Alaska
Bans Felt!
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Alaska has become the first state to ban the use of felt
soles on waders and wading boots. The Alaska Board of Fisheries had
previously announced a ban in the SE portions of the state in 2011 but,
in mid March, they voted unanimously to make the ban statewide and
delay its implementation until Jan. 1, 2012 Read More
In addition to the Alaska action,
we have previously reported on the proposed felt ban in New Mexico and
there is now a legislative effort underway in Vermont as well.
The fishing industry generally is in support of the move away
from felt and most wader companies are rapidly switching to feltless
alternatives, a move that is supported by many.
Read More
In this Orvis Podcast noted fly
angler, Tom Rosenbauer, offers an excellent overview of the felt sole
issue and offers some thoughtful advice Listen Here
Two
Views On Pike
In many western states
northern pike are a feared invader. They are very efficient predators
and their tolerance of cool to cold water means that they can
successfully thrive in many types of trout water as well as in lakes
and ponds that harbor other game fish. The battle against pike is being
fought by biologists in many areas and all are quick to condemn the
"bucket biologists" who move these fish to suit
 their
own desires. No responsible angler would ever move these
fish to
new waters but some do admit that they find a value to the sport they
offer. From Alaska we get the story of one person who enjoys tangling
with the invasive pike. Read More
At the other end of the spectrum, we get the story titled Northern Pike: A**holes of the
Fishing World in which the author finds nothing of value
in these invaders. Read More
Striped
Bass Threaten Salmon
We all know that our pacific
salmon stocks are in serious condition. Many species are teetering on
the edge of extinction and salmon recovery is a top priority for most.
In California we are seeing a classic battle play out as salmon
recovery
advocates fight to eliminate the preferences given to the invasive
striped bass. Read
More
Battling
Salvinia
One of the biggest reactions I get when I do presentations
about aquatic invasive species comes when I show slides of severe
salvinia infestations. Seeing the dense green blanket covering the
entire surface of a large area allows all of us to easily imagine what
it could do to our favorite water. Across the south the war is on to
contain and control the salvinia invasion..
Texas is facing a serious threat
to some of the best bass fishing waters in the world and they are doing
whatever they can to reduce the salvinia being spread by fishermen.
They have a very informative short video on their efforts. Watch the Video
In Louisiana, officials caution
that they are losing their fight against the invasive weed and have
proposed spending 7.9 million in the coming year on control. “I would
tell you it’s getting better, but that’s not the case. It’s getting
worse. It’s an ongoing threat to the waters of the state of Louisiana.”
says Robert Barham, the head of the state Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries. Read More
Supreme
Court Rejects Great Lakes States Again
The threat that Asian carp will
soon invade the Great Lakes has been much in the news as everyone
scrambles to find ways to protect the Lakes from what experts believe
will be serious damage. These invaders will significantly alter the
ecology of the Lakes and could lead to collapses of some fish
stocks.
We have written a lot about the problem and the fight between
neighbors that it has triggered. In short, all of the Great Lakes
states except Illinois want the immediate closure of the man-made canal
that connects the Mississippi River drainage to Lake Michigan. This
canal
has been identified as the most likely place for the carp to enter the
Lake and scientists have argued for years about how to best keep the
carp out. After failing to convince the US Supreme Court to order the
immediate closure of the canal earlier in the year, the states involved
got the Court to take another look at the situation and the Court again
refused to order the canal closed. Read More
Science
Of Felt Presentation
We published the Science of Felt
paper late last year and it
has generated a lot of discussion. Recently we have made presentations
about this and we have received a lot of requests for copies of
the presentation. If you would like a pdf copy Download Here
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